Life in Edinburgh as a student

Student life in Edinburgh can be fun, exciting, unforgettable but it can be stressful too! With four different Universities and various colleges, Edinburgh is certainly an attractive city to many students. It has been the centre of education for centuries and it has some of the top Universities in Scotland, making it one of the best choices in terms of student life and studying.

The city’s attractions are various, whether you are into visiting galleries or going for a walk around Arthur’s Seat, there is nothing that you will miss out as a student in Edinburgh. And the best part is that most things are for free so you can live under any budget! There are loads of bars, places to eat, cafes to enjoy an afternoon tea and there is always an event organised by a student society that will give you the chance to meet some new faces.

With many of you asking us questions about life in Scotland as a student, I thought it would only be appropriate to share some advice with you all prospective Edinburgh students to help you deal with the stress of moving, studying and living in this beautiful city.

THINGS TO DO PRIOR YOUR MOVE TO EDINBURGH::

-Check if any of your classmates or friends are also going to study in Edinburgh and arrange to meet for a coffee. Sometimes sharing your anxiety with someone who is going under the same stress helps to eliminate it. Also, knowing that someone from your city is going to be there too (especially for the first month and until you create your own social circle) makes you feel more at ease.

-When looking for accommodation consider living outside the student halls as most of the times they are overpriced. If you have already found a flat and are looking for a roommate, or you haven’t found anything yet and you are looking for a place to move in and share with others, then sites like Spare Room, Easy Roommate, Find Roommate and Gumtree might be of major help. Make sure you meet your potential roommate/flatmate beforehand and have a judgement of his/her character prior singing the house contract.

-Research the area of your house. It is good to know before moving in how far away are the local amenities and also which is the best way to go to the University.

-Consider buying a bike. It is the cheapest way to move around Edinburgh and it will get you to the University at no time.

-Work out your budget. Edinburgh is not an extremely expensive city, however knowing your budget will eliminate the stress of the last days of the month when you will be left with only a few pennies. Edinburgh has all of the big chain supermarkets that offer discounted food around 7pm (thus most students head over the sales section to do their shopping ). If your budget is tight then consider buying at this time and then freezing a few of the stuff?

-Check out the Fresher’s Week schedule and the societies you might fancy getting involved. It is the best chance to make friends of the same interest and to feel a bit better from moving away from your family and home comforts.

THINGS TO DO WHILE IN EDINBURGH::

-Explore the city as much as possible! Edinburgh is a stunning city with loads to offer, so if you are studying here you are one one the lucky ones! Go outside, grab something to eat and enjoy The Meadows, or Calton Hill. There is always something new to discover!

-Go on a weekend trip somewhere nearby. North Berwick, St. Andrews, Glasgow, there are so many pretty places to discover and luckily there are all located in a very short trip from Edinburgh, saving you money and time to travel.

-Join a student society!

-Work hard during the semesters, it will make your examination periods easy as breathing.

That’s all from me now, if you would like more of these posts please let me know and then I will pop in Natbee’s more regularly. Meanwhile, have a look at my Instagram posts for more of Edinburgh.

I have a friend studying at Edinburgh, but tbh I have no idea what she’s up to except through her Snap Stories! She’s been doing so much traveling and I’m kinda jealous! ;P -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s

Anastasia

My name is Anastasia and I love taking pictures & telling stories about my life in Scotland, countryside adventures with my Jack Russell puppy and renovating our Victorian flat. Often found with an Olympus camera in hand touring around Aberdeen photographing. I hope you enjoy this space and stay for a while!